Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/320

302 of eight men who had been surprised by the Modocs, and all killed except himself. His horse being shot, he sprang upon another, which ran with him, carrying him until it fell exhausted, several miles up the valley of Lost river. From here the man, whose mind was evidently unsettled by the shock he had received, wandered to Klamath lake, but seeing an Indian turned back, and the next day dis covered his horse feeding, which he remounted and rode, without getting down, for three days, and until he came to Tolman's camp. He had eaten nothing, but had tied up a handful of rosebuds in his handkerchief, as he "expected to be out all winter, and should need them." This demented creature was taken by the company to Yreka, where his story, in connection with the report of Tolman and the guides, of the dangers of the Modoc country, led to the organization of a second company of volunteers.

A meeting was called on the evening of the twenty-fourth of August, at which means to put the men in the field was subscribed by the citizens and miners, and Ben Wright was chosen captain. He was at that time mining on Cotton wood creek, twenty miles distant, but by daylight was in Yreka, surrounded by men eager alike to prevent carnage, or to avenge it by spending more blood. A peculiar enthusiasm was imparted to volunteering by the fact that Tolman's train was the first to arrive with women and children, the homeless miners having their minds harrowed by the suggestion of what might have been the fate of these but for the warning and guidance given by McDermit's company, and what might, even after all, befall others on some part of the route.

Three days were consumed in getting together the equipment of men and horses, with provision wagons, and every thing necessary; and on the sixth day after the meeting in Yreka, Wright reached Tule lake just in time to rescue a train that was surrounded and fighting the Modocs, two men being wounded. The sight of Wright s company advancing sent the savages into places of concealment